Overview
I have been producing sustainable structures since 1997, on my own projects and as a consultant, designer and builder, in Wales and in Spain. Originally a photographer, this led to a focus on creative functional structures, after a long process of changing my own living environment. I explore how sites can provide choices in materials for structures, which can reduce the carbon footprint of a build substantially, potentially to zero. There are many clues in vernacular buildings, waste streams and in the ground beneath our feet. I have developed a reputation for creating structures from whatever is to hand and have a wealth of eclectic experience, that I use to unpick social and practical problems.
I began ‘Salad Workers in Spain’ in 2014, a social justice project that built compost toilets and edible gardens with volunteers in migrant camps in Almería, Spain. Now, resettled in Wales, I co-founded and project manage ‘Incredible Edible Porthmadog’ (since 2016) and teach in local and waste materials. I have articles published in Spain and in the UK on sustainable building methods and agriculture in Almería.
BA (Hons) Photography 1990. Photographer 1992 - 2016
Workshop leader and small structure contracts 2009 - 2019
MSc Sustainability and Adaptation in the Built Environment 2018
Visiting lecturer and short course leader at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales 2015-19
Clayfest 2018 workshop leader
Mentor - Renew Wales 2019
Research
Research interests
My MSc research focused on local resources for sustainable materials and food industry migrant stories/routes to Spain from Western Africa.
Papers presented at;
Hugo Conference on Environment, Migration, Politics in Liege, Belgium, 2017
Sustainable Design in the Built Environment Conference, London, 2018
Futurebuild, London, 2019
Thesis
Solid waste as a construction material solution
Solid waste (SW), is now commonly recognised as a global threat that is unconstrained by boundaries and new international solutions/agreements are called for (Borrelle et al., 2017). Ocean clean-up projects are collecting plastic which will add exponentially to land based waste. Waste material could be viewed as a resource, if it can be organised, repurposed and used; for example, glass bottles, cans, plastic bottles or tyres. In addition, in areas where conflict or disaster has occurred, building materials can be scarce and using waste can be a solution, or a part of preparedness. Studies examine waste management in various scenarios; post conflict (Calò and Parise, 2009; Karnasena, 2015) developing countries (Henry et al. 2006; Marshall and Farahbakhsh, 2013), recycling issues (Tam and Tam, 2006), waste placement alternatives (Riley, 2008) and new definitions of the waste problem (Tong and Tao, 2016; MacArthur, 2017). Few academic studies explore proposals for direct reuse of waste material.
Funding source
Looking for funding
Supervisors
Dr Vicki Stevenson
Reader, Course Director for MSc Environmental Design of Buildings, Director of Postgraduate Research